Variations in and relating to roulette and other games

ABSTRACT

A method of playing a game, permitting a player to place a bet forecasting separately the outcome of the game and the outcome of one or more other random events.

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/101,504 filed on Apr. 11, 2008 which claims priority from British Patent Application No. 0707123.6 filed on Apr. 13, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION Introduction and Definitions

The present invention relates to a variation of Roulette and other games.

Where the context so admits herein reference to the male shall include the female, use of the singular shall include the plural and vice versa and the following expressions shall bear the following meanings that is to say:

‘the tariff’ shall mean ‘a list or schedule of pay-outs’

‘standard bet’ shall mean ‘any bet available by using a chip or chips representing money when playing the traditional game of Roulette the standard (European) layout for which is illustrated in FIG. 1”

‘plus-bet box’ shall mean ‘any of the boxes set out on any of the specially designed gaming cloths and so identified in the illustrations’

‘plus-bet’ shall mean ‘a bet on the outcome of a standard roulette bet combined with the random event or events depicted by the Gaming Generator such bet being placed or registered in the appropriate plus-bet box’

‘Treble-bet’ shall mean ‘a bet on the outcome of a standard roulette bet combined with the outcome of two random events depicted by the Gaming Generator and placed on the appropriate bet-box’

‘accumulator bet’ shall mean ‘a bet on the outcome of a standard roulette bet combined with the outcome of three or more events depicted by the Gaming Generator and placed on the appropriate bet box’

‘the Gaming Generator’ shall mean ‘an electronic device producing a random number, letter, colour or symbol or any combination of any of them’ or alternatively ‘one or more multi-sided devices displaying numbers, letters, colours or symbols, which device or devices may be real, virtual, mechanical, inert or digital’

‘the additional equipment’ shall mean “the Gaming Generator and the specially designed gaming cloths as illustrated’ (FIG. 2, FIG. 3 or FIG. 4)

Equipment:

The equipment for the Game shall be a wheel with slots each of the same size and each identified with different numbers, letters or symbols, a ball capable when spun round the rim of the wheel to fit into and land in any one of the slots, specially designed gaming cloths (as illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 2 a) and a Gaming Generator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The Game Background

Roulette is a casino game from the French word for ‘small wheel’.

In the game a dealer or croupier spins a wheel in one direction and a ball in the opposite direction around a tilted circular surface running around the rim of the wheel.

The ball eventually falls onto the wheel and into one of 37 (in European Roulette) or 38 (in American Roulette) coloured and numbered slots on the wheel.

Wheel Layout

The main slots are numbered from 1 to 36 alternating between red and black.

The slots are not in numerical order round the wheel. There is a neutral slot generally coloured green identified as zero (and in American Roulette there is also a second green slot marked double zero).

Betting

Players may place a variety of ‘inside’ bets (selecting the number of the slot or a range of slots in which the ball will land), and ‘outside’ bets being bets on whether the ‘winning numbered slot’ falls within a nominated one third of the wheel, or one of the identified even chances typically 1-18 or 19-36, red or black, or odd or even. The pay-out odds for each type of bet is based on its likelihood while allowing a small ‘edge’ to the roulette operator or casino. The bets are placed on the gaming cloth.

History

Roulette has been played in its current form since 1796 (in Paris).

In 1842 the zero (displayed as “0”) was added to the roulette wheel in order to achieve a house advantage.

In the early 1800s roulette was introduced to the USA and a second zero, “00”, was introduced. (In some forms of early American roulette the double-zero was replaced by an American Eagle.)

In the 1800s roulette spread all over both Europe and the USA becoming one of the most famous and most popular casino games.

Types of Bets

Inside Bets:

Straight: a single number. The chip is placed entirely on the middle of a number square.

Split: a bet on two adjoining numbers, either on the vertical or horizontal (as in 14-17 or 8-9). The chip is placed on the line between these numbers.

Street: a bet on three numbers on a single horizontal line. The chip is placed on the edge of a vertical line level with the three numbers intended to be covered by the bet e.g. 1-2-3 or 31-32-33.

Corner (or square): a bet on four numbers in a square layout (as in 11-12-14-15). The chip is placed at the horizontal and vertical intersection of the lines around the numbers.

Line or Six line: a bet on two adjoining streets with the chip placed at the corresponding intersection as if in between where two street bets would be placed.

Outside Bets

Evens: a bet on 18 numbers. This is placed in the a box representing the attribute (black/red, low/high, or even/odd) that the player intends to bet on.

Dozen or Group Bets: a bet on the first, second, or third group of twelve numbers i.e. 1 to 12, 13 to 24 or 25 to 36.

Column: a bet on all 12 numbers on any of the three vertical lines (such as 1-4-7-10 on down to 34). The chip is placed on the space below the final number in this string.

Standard Pay Table

In addition to each under-mentioned pay-out the bet is returned

Number of slots covered Bet name by the bet Pay-out 0 or zero one 35 to 1 00 or double zero one 35 to 1 (American Roulette only) Straight up (single number other one 35 to 1 than zero or double zero Split two 17 to 1 Zero Row 0 + 00 two 17 to 1 (American Roulette only) Street (e.g. Row 1-2-3) three 11 to 1 five number (bet 0-00-1-2-3) five 6 to 1 (American Roulette only) Column (e.g. 1-4-7 etc. to 34) twelve 2 to 1 Dozen (e.g. 1 to 12 inclusive) twelve 2 to 1 Odd or Even eighteen 1 to 1 Red or Black eighteen 1 to 1 Low (1 to 18) or High (19 to 36) eighteen 1 to 1

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention in a variation of Roulette, a player may place a bet on the outcome of a spin of the Roulette wheel in combination with the outcome of one or more other random events.

Bets may be placed on the spin of the roulette wheel in accordance with conventional criteria, as described above. The other random event may comprise an electronic random generator device producing a random number, letter, colour or symbol or any combination of any of them, or alternatively one or more multi-sided device displaying numbers, letters, colours or symbols, which device or devices may be real, virtual, mechanical, inert or digital.

The odds paid out on a successful bet will be an appropriate multiple of the odds paid out on the conventional Roulette forming the first part of the bet, depending on the odds involved in predicting the outcome of the random event forming the second part of the bet.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, a player may place a bet on the outcome of a spin of the Roulette wheel in combination with the outcome of two or more, other random events.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:—

The games in accordance with the present invention, as described below, may be played for fun or gaming purposes.

FIG. 1 is a layout for a gaming cloth for conventional Roulette;

FIG. 2 is a layout for a gaming cloth for one embodiment of a game in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a layout for a gaming cloth for an alternative embodiment of a game in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a layout for a gaming cloth for a further embodiment of a game in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a layout for a card game in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a layout for an alternative card game in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a layout for a dice game in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the conventional layout illustrated in FIG. 1, the numbers 1 to 36 of the roulette wheel are set out in a matrix 10 of three columns of twelve rows, with an additional box 12 of one row across all three columns, at the top for “0”. Additional outside betting boxes 14 are provided at the bottom of each column, for placing bets on the twelve numbers from 1 to 36 in each of the columns. Further outside betting boxes are placed along the sides of the columns; boxes 16 for placing bets on numbers “1 to 12”, “13 to 24” and “25 to 36” respectively; boxes 18 for placing bets on numbers “1 to 18”, and “19 to 36” respectively; boxes 20 for placing bets on “odd” and “even” respectively; and boxes 22 for placing bets on “red” or “black” respectively.

According to one embodiment a game in accordance with the present invention may be played by any number of players on a specially designed gaming cloth as illustrated in FIG. 2, on which bets may be placed combining standard Roulette betting procedures coupled with additional betting boxes as illustrated.

A player may place a bet on the outcome of the spin of the Roulette Wheel only, in conventional manner as described above. In addition or alternatively the player may place a bet on the outcome of the spin of the Roulette Wheel in combination with the outcome of the throw of a six sided dice, the sides of the dice being numbered 1 to 6 or an electronic number generator which may randomly select any number from 1 to 6.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the modified layout is based on the conventional Roulette layout of FIG. 1. Additional betting boxes 30 are provided, each box 30 corresponding to one row of the conventional Roulette layout. Each of the boxes 30 is subdivided into six boxes which are marked +1 to +6. A further additional betting box 32 corresponds to the 12 box of the conventional layout, the box 32 being subdivided into six boxes marked +1 to +6. Further additional boxes 34, 36 are associated with the box 12 and outside betting boxes 14 to 22 of the conventional layout, boxes 34 being marked “Hi” and boxes 36 being marked “Lo”.

The dealer or croupier will spin the ball in the usual way and in addition will throw the dice or activate the electronic random number generator which will display a random number of from 1 to 6.

In order to be paid the players must successfully forecast the outcome of both events that is the number on the wheel against which the spun ball shall have come to rest and the random number displayed by the dice or random number generator.

In addition to the conventional betting options, a player may:—

-   -   Place a bet in one subdivisions of one of the boxes 30, to bet         on the three numbers in the row corresponding to the particular         box 30, for example 1, 2 and 3, the subdivision corresponding to         one of the numbers +1 to +6, for example +4. The player will win         the bet if the number coming up on the Roulette wheel is 1, 2 or         3 and the number thrown on the dice or generated by the random         number generator is 4. The player is played out at the odds         given in the pay table below.     -   Place a bet in one subdivisions of one of the box 32, to bet on         “0”, the subdivision corresponding to one of the numbers +1 to         +6, for example +3. The player will win the bet if the number         coming up on the Roulette wheel is “0” and the number thrown on         the dice or generated by the random number generator is 3. The         player is paid out at the odds given in the pay table below.     -   Place a bet in one or more of the boxes 34 or 36 associated with         box 12 or boxes 14 to 22 of the conventional layout. The player         will win the bet placed in one of the boxes 34 if “0” or the         conventional outside bet corresponding to the box 14 to 22 comes         up and the number thrown on the dice or generated by the random         number generator is 4 to 6. The player will win the bet placed         in one of the boxes 36 if “0” or the conventional outside bet         corresponding to the box 14 to 22 comes up and the number thrown         on the dice or generated by the random number generator is 1         to 3. The player is paid out at the odds given in the pay table         below.

PAY-OUT TABLE In addition to each under-mentioned pay-out the bet is returned Zero and (+1 to +6) (Box 32) pays: 210 to 1 Zero and (+Hi or +Lo) (Box 34 or 36) pays: 70 to 1 Row and (+1 to +6) (Box 30) pays: 70 to 1 Column and (+Hi or +Lo) (Box 34 or 36 in Box 14) pays: 5 to 1 1-12, 13-24 or 25-36 and (+Hi or +Lo) 5 to 1 (Box 34 or 36 in Box 16) pays: 1-18 or 19-36 and (+Hi or +Lo) (Box 34 or 36 in box 18) pays: 5 to 1 Odd or Even and (+Hi or +Lo) (Box 34 or 36 in Box 20) pays: 3 to 1 Black or Red and (+Hi or +Lo) (Box 34 or 36 in Box 22) pays: 3 to 1

In a simplified embodiment of the game described above, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the (Hi−Lo) options are dispensed with. Furthermore boxes 40, 42 corresponding to boxes 30 and 32 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, are divided into four, the four boxes being numbered +1 to +4. The random number generator in this case is a twelve sided dice with three faces numbered +1 to +4 respectively. Alternatively an electronic random number generator capable of generating numbers +1 to +4 may be used.

With this embodiment of the game the pay out table may be as follows:—

PAY-OUT TABLE In addition to each under-mentioned pay-out the bet is returned Zero and (+1 to +4) (Box 42) pays: 140 to 1 Row and (+1 to +4) (Box 40) pays: 45 to 1

In the further embodiment illustrated on FIG. 4, a player has an opportunity of placing a bet on the outcome of a spin of the roulette wheel together with two additional random events. This embodiment of the game in accordance with the present invention may be played by any number of players on a specially designed gaming cloth on which bets may be placed combining standard Roulette betting procedures coupled with additional betting boxes as illustrated in FIG. 4.

In addition to the conventional roulette wheel, the equipment for playing the game may include a first random generator, for example an dice with an even number of sides, the sides of the dice being marked with a series of numbers, for example the dice may have six sides marker 1 to 6. Alternatively, equal numbers of the faces may be marked “Hi” and “Lo”. A second random generator, for example a dice with an even number of sides, equal numbers of the sides being of different colour, for example “Red” or “Blue”. In place of the first and second random generators, an electronic generator may be used to randomly select either “Hi” or “Lo” and either “Red” or “Blue”. According to a further alternative a single, a single twelve sided dice may have six pairs of sides marked 1 to 6, one of each pair being marked “Red” while the other if each pair is marked “Blue”, so that a throw of the dice will give a random selection of “Hi” (4 to 6) or “Lo” (1 to 3) and “Red” or “Blue”. It should be remembered that “Red” in this context refers to “Red” on the random generator and not “Red” as opposed to “Black”, in the conventional Roulette game.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, an additional betting box 50 corresponds to the zero box 12 of the conventional Roulette layout; additional betting boxes 52 are aligned intermediate of the rows of the matrix 10 of the conventional Roulette layout; additional betting boxes 54 are provided in boxes 14, 18, 20 and 22 of the conventional roulette layout; and additional betting boxes 56, 58 are provided in each of the boxes 16 of the conventional Roulette layout. The boxes 50, 52 and 54 are quartered diagonally, opposite quarters being marked “Hi” and “Lo” and the other opposite quarters being coloured “Red” and “Blue”. In order to fit in with the conventional layout, the boxes 56 and 58 correspond to half's of the boxes 50 to 54, box 56 being marked “Hi” and “Red” and “Blue” and box 58 being marked “Lo” and “Red” and “Blue”.

The dealer or croupier will spin the ball in the usual way and in addition will throw the dice or activate the electronic random number generator which will; display a random number of from 1 to 6 (1 to 3 being “Lo” and 4 to 6 being “Hi”) and a random colour “Red” or “Blue”.

In order to be paid the players must successfully forecast the outcome of all three events that is the number on the wheel against which the spun ball shall have come to rest, whether the random number displayed by the dice or random number generator is “Hi” or “Lo” and whether the random colour is “Red” or “Blue”.

The player indicates his bet by placing a bet in one or more of the boxes 50 to 58, on the diagonal between the selected choice of “Hi” or “Lo” and the selected choice of “Red” or “Blue”

In addition to the conventional betting options, a player may place a bet on “Hi” or “Lo” and “Red” or “Blue” in combination with the spin of the Roulette wheel coming up:—

Zero (Box 50);

One of a series of six numbers e.g. (1 to 6) (Box 52); A column of 12 numbers (Box 54);

1-18, 9-36 (Box 54); Even, Odd (Box 54);

Red, Black (Box 54); and/or 1-12, 13-24, 25-36 (boxes 56, 58); the successful bets being paid out, for example, at the odds set out in the table below.

Pay-Out Table in addition to each under-mentioned pay-out the bet is returned Zero and (“Hi” or “Lo”) and (“Red” or “Blue”) pays: 140 to 1 One of six numbers, and (“Hi” or “Lo”) and (“Red” or 22 to 1 “Blue”) pays: Column and (“Hi” or “Lo”) and (“Red” or “Blue”) pays: 11 to 1 1-12, 13-24, 25-36 and (“Hi” or “Lo”) and 11 to 1 (“Red” or “Blue”) pays: 1-18, 9-36 and (“Hi” or “Lo”) and (“Red” or “Blue”) pays: 7 to 1 Even, Odd and (“Hi” or “Lo”) and (“Red” or “Blue”) pays: 7 to 1 Red, Black and (“Hi” or “Lo”) and (“Red” or “Blue”) pays: 7 to 1

In an alternative embodiment of the game illustrated on FIG. 4, a player may have the option of betting on a combination of the spin of the roulette wheel with only one random event, either “Hi” or “Lo” or “Red” or “Black”, by placing the bet in the quarter appropriately marked rather that on the diagonal. For this option, the odds paid will be appropriately adjusted.

In alternative embodiments the games described herein may be played with roulette wheels having more or fewer slots, with slots identified by symbols or letters and/or plus-bet boxes with more or fewer betting opportunities.

In alternative embodiments the games described herein may be played with three or more different random events generated in addition to the standard Roulette number, group or range of numbers or any combination of two or more such random events all or any such additional random events shall be generated by the Gaming Generator or Generators.

In alternative embodiments the games described herein or any variation thereof may also be adapted for Internet entertainment, video slot machines, computer programs, interactive television or any electronic medium in such case the term ‘gaming cloth’ as herein described is intended to cover a virtual representation of a gaming cloth and the term ‘Gaming Generator’ is intended to cover a virtual representation thereof.

Furthermore use of the term ‘cloth’ is not intended to restrict the claims to use of a particular material but will cover any medium which defines a playing area for the games, whether real, virtual, artificially illuminated or otherwise.

Furthermore one or more Gaming Generators may be used in the course of playing the Game or any of the Games described or referred to herein.

Additionally or alternatively the game or any variation thereof may be played or adapted for use in or as a lottery, on a scratch-card or by random selection of labelled balls or other equipment.

With the American version of the conventional game in which boxes, corresponding to box 12 of the European version of the game, are provided for “0” and “00” the options for additional bets may include individual additional bets on “0” and “00”, an additional bet on “0-00” and/or an additional bet on “0, 00, 1, 2, 3”.

While the invention has been described above as a variation of Roulette, the use of a random event generator device to introduce a forecast bet, may be used with other gaming apparatus which will generate one of a plurality of specified outcomes upon which a player of the game may place a bet upon that outcome occurring. Such other gaming apparatus may include, playing cards, one or more dice or even a second random event generator device.

FIG. 5 illustrates the layout of a gaming cloth for a card game in which two cards are dealt to the or each of one or more players playing the game. Alternatively, only cards may be dealt, the two cards being common to all the players participating in the game.

Betting boxes 60, 62, 64 are provided in which the or each player may place a bet that the two cards dealt will constitute:—

A pair (two cards of the same rank); A straight (two cards of consecutive rank); or A Flush (two card of the same suit).

A player correctly predicting the occurrence of one of the specified hands will win the bet and will be paid out at appropriate odds.

Additional multi-choice betting boxes 66 are provided associated with each of the betting boxes 60, 62, 64. The additional betting boxes 66 are divided into four, the four boxes being numbered +1 to +4. The random number generator in this case may be similar to that described with reference to FIG. 3, that is a multi sided dice with equal numbers of faces numbered +1 to +4 respectively. Alternatively an electronic random number generator capable of generating numbers +1 to +4 may be used.

A player may optionally place a bet in one of the divisions of one of the additional betting boxes 66 associated with one of the betting boxes 60, 62, 64. If the player correctly forecasts the specified two card hand corresponding to the box 60, 62, 64 associated with the box 66 in which he has placed his bet and correctly predicts the number generated by the random number generator, then he will win the bet and will be paid out at odds which are an appropriate multiple of the basic odds for predicting the specified two card hand.

In the game illustrated by the layout shown in FIG. 6 a single individual or common card is dealt and a player may place a bet on the suit or rank of the card by placing a bet in one of the betting boxes 70 or 72, respectively. Again additional betting boxes 74, similar to the betting boxes 66 of FIG. 5, are associated with each of the betting boxes 70, 72, in which a player may place a bet and if correctly predicting the suit or rank of the card and the number generated by a random number generator similar to that described with reference to FIG. 5, winning the bet and being paid out at appropriately increased odds.

The games described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 may be played as a stand alone card game or may provide a side bet in another principal game, for example the game illustrated by FIG. 5 may be played as a side bet in Texas Hold'em poker, the two card dealt to each player being used to decide the side bet.

FIG. 7 illustrates a layout for playing Sic-Bo. Sic-Bo is a dice game in which three dice are rolled and bets may be placed on individual dice of specified number (betting box 80); two dice of the same number (betting boxes 82); various specified combinations of two dice (betting boxes 84); three dice of the same number (betting boxes 86); or the totals of the three dice (betting boxes 88).

Additional betting boxes 90 are associated with betting boxes 84 and 86. The additional betting boxes 90 are divided and numbered +1 to +4 corresponding to numbers that may be generated by a random number generator similar to that described with reference to FIG. 5. A player may place a bet in one division of an additional betting area 90 associated with one of the betting boxes 84, 86, the player winning the bet and being paid at appropriately increased odds if he correctly predicts the specified result of the roll of the dice and the number generated by the random number generator. 

1. A method of playing a game utilising a gaming apparatus to generate one of a plurality of specified outcomes upon which a player of the game may place a bet upon that outcome occurring, the method comprising the steps of:— a. providing a gaming apparatus capable of generating one of a plurality of specified outcomes; b. providing a layout having a plurality of betting areas corresponding to said specified outcomes generated by the gaming apparatus, whereby a player may place a bet on the outcome of a play of the gaming apparatus; c. providing a random generator device to produce one or more random events; d. providing a plurality of separate multi-choice random event betting areas corresponding to the random events produced by the random generator device, each separate multi-choice random event betting area being associated with one or more different betting areas corresponding to a specified outcome of the gaming machine, whereby a player may place a bet forecasting separately; the specified outcome generated by the gaming apparatus and a random event produced by the random generator device; e. allowing a player to place a bet on at least one on: a specified outcome generated by the gaming apparatus, and/or the specified outcome generated by the gaming apparatus and a random event of the random event generator device; f. playing the gaming apparatus and at the same time generating a random event via the random event generator device; g. determining whether a player has placed a winning bet; and h. paying a winning bet.
 2. A method according to claim 1 in which the random generator device produces a random number, letter, colour or symbol or any combination thereof.
 3. A method according to claim 1 in which the random generator device is one or more multi-faceted devices displaying numbers, letters, colours or symbols, which device or devices may be real, virtual, mechanical, inert or digital.
 4. A method according to claim 1 in which there is a one in two chance of predicting the outcome of the or each random event.
 5. A method according to claim 4 in which the player in addition to predicting the specified outcome generated by the gaming apparatus must also predict whether a number produced by the random generator device, from a series of numbers, is in a lower half of the series “Lo” or a higher half of the series “Hi”.
 6. A method according to claim 4 in which the player in addition to predicting the specified outcome generated by the gaming apparatus must also predict a colour produced by the random generator device from a series of two colours.
 7. A method according to claim 1 in which there is a one in more that two chance of predicting the outcome of the or each random event.
 8. A method according to claim 7 in which the or each player in addition to predicting the specified outcome generated by the gaming apparatus must also predict the number produced by the random generator, from a series of three or more numbers.
 9. A method according to claim 7 in which the or each player in addition to predicting the specified outcome generated by the gaming apparatus must also predict; whether a number produced by the random generator device, from an even series of numbers, is in the lower half of the series “Lo” or the higher half of the series “Hi”; and also the colour generated by a second random generator device from a series of two colours.
 10. A method according to claim 1 in which the player may place multiple bets on the specified outcome generated by the gaming apparatus and one or more other random events produced by the random generator device.
 11. A method according to claim 1 in which the gaming apparatus may be selected from the group including, playing cards, one or more dice, a roulette wheel and a second random event generator device.
 12. A method according to claim 1 in which two or more players may place bets. 